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Original poster

Alternative to an iron??

45 replies

silkypillows · 01/03/2022 12:15

I swear I spend every moment that my DS are sleeping catching up on ironing. I hate it more than any other chore and it's never ending!

Of course not ironing would be an easy alternative but DS1 is 2.5 and is going through a 'I only wear long tops because I can be convinced that they're pyjamas' stage and they look awful without being ironed.

Am I missing something? Is there some device I could use that'll change my ironing life forever?! Open to the idea of a steamer or similar but I don't know where to start.

(PS... I used to be cool! 🤦🏻‍♀️)

OP posts:
ToniLaRoni · 01/03/2022 12:16

Just don't iron works well for me.

Hang stuff to dry. Done.

Wingingthis · 01/03/2022 12:18

Clothes steamer!

Talipesmum · 01/03/2022 12:21

Wash on the “easy iron” setting and hang up carefully to dry. For a 2.5 year old’s top, I’d have thought that would be more than sufficient??

TonkaTruckduck · 01/03/2022 12:26

I've recently cut down what I iron, I trialled stopping my 2.5 year old tshirt and long sleeve tops and it's fine. It does help that he's a bit chubby, so after 10 minutes of having them on any creases have pulled out. I do hang them carefully on hangers to dry though, makes a huge difference.

SickAndTiredAgain · 01/03/2022 12:28

I would just stop ironing his clothes.

wildthingsinthenight · 01/03/2022 12:31

Hang or fold as soon as dry. Take out of washer/ tumble drier the second they are done. Set timer on your phone for this in case you are elsewhere in the house.

JadeSeahorse · 01/03/2022 12:31

Lenor Crease Release is absolutely brilliant! 😀

Like you OP, I am generally an ironer. However, most things when tumble dried can be hung straight up but, when I'm feeling lazy, I put a quick squirt of crease release on, follow the instructions, and it works a treat.
(I am someone who can't bear the slightest crease too!)

Hov1 · 01/03/2022 12:34

Do you have a tumble dryer? I just hang them up in the wardrobe once dry and they are crease free.
Alternatively I also have a press iron for bedding etc and its brilliant!

Noname1999 · 01/03/2022 12:37

I only iron formal clothing. Don't iron for a child - no one cares! :) Otherwise, hanging up things immediately and not leaving in the washing machine will help a lot

acquiescence · 01/03/2022 12:38

I never iron apart from for weddings or similar. Get washing out of machine immediately and shake well, hang to dry. If you have a tumble drier then a 10 min blast straight from machine and hang. Our clothes never look creased. I don’t buy materials that need ironing properly such as linen.

BettyBooper · 01/03/2022 12:40

I use a hair dryer when things are really creased... Hate ironing!

Sofasogood1 · 01/03/2022 12:42

I don't believe anything other than smart shirts need to be ironed. Take out of machine, shake and shape, and hang on heated airer. Hang big sheet over top so stuff dries quickly. I literally iron nothing and my clothes look good and not creased

frankiefirstyear · 01/03/2022 12:44

I dry my stuff on the airer/line. Then do a slow tumble in dryer for about 5-10 mins (ensuring there's plenty of room for a tumble - don't cram the stuff in) then fold immediately and hang up/store ASAP afterwards.
I've not used an iron for about 10 years or more.

CommonPrimrose · 01/03/2022 12:44

Take out of washing machine immediately shake well and dry hanging on a line for preference or on the drying rack.
Shake, smooth, fold and put away.

Forget ironing.

CommonPrimrose · 01/03/2022 12:45

Buy thicker / better looking cotton for future clothes.

TheTeenageYears · 01/03/2022 13:22

If it's just DS's tops that are the problem only iron those and nothing else.

Riapia · 01/03/2022 13:22

The MN posters who never iron are the same ones that can feed a family of four off of one chicken for a month.
It’s an MN fable.

CommonPrimrose · 01/03/2022 13:22

It really isn't but whatever!

Sofasogood1 · 01/03/2022 13:26

@Riapia

The MN posters who never iron are the same ones that can feed a family of four off of one chicken for a month. It’s an MN fable.
Nope not true. No Mumsnet chicken here.
GameofPhones · 01/03/2022 13:32

Put clothes slightly damp into tumble drier. I leave for 30 mins (could experiment with less) take out and fold, then put on airer. Works for me.

Bunty55 · 01/03/2022 13:32

@silkypillows

I swear I spend every moment that my DS are sleeping catching up on ironing. I hate it more than any other chore and it's never ending!

Of course not ironing would be an easy alternative but DS1 is 2.5 and is going through a 'I only wear long tops because I can be convinced that they're pyjamas' stage and they look awful without being ironed.

Am I missing something? Is there some device I could use that'll change my ironing life forever?! Open to the idea of a steamer or similar but I don't know where to start.

(PS... I used to be cool! 🤦🏻‍♀️)

OP I have always ironed. I am of a certain generation, and to be truthful I find ironing to be therapeutic.

The electric bill however is another story.

I have stopped ironing. I only iron items that are so badly creased they could not be worn, so they are piled in an ironing basket.

Everything else is folded and put away. Nobody has said a word to me. It's all good and I feel strangely liberated
Wash dry and fold and put away. Do not pass go, and avoid the iron like the plague :)

RavenclawsRoar · 01/03/2022 13:33

I have a 4yo, a 2yo and a baby. I never ever iron anything. Just stop!

RavenclawsRoar · 01/03/2022 13:34

....and I don't even like chicken Wink

peboh · 01/03/2022 13:55

My alternative is that I just don't own an iron. I can count on one hand how many things I've needed ironing over the years I've lived on my own so I just asked my mum or mil if they'd do it for me.

Original poster
silkypillows · 01/03/2022 13:57

I appreciate that people probably don't care what DS1 is wearing but it matters to me.

We inherited a tumble drier from the previous home owner but I've never used it as I've always had an irrational fear of them catching fire 🤦🏻‍♀️

I currently take clothes straight from the washing machine and hang them to dry on an airer before bundling them into the airing cupboard to ensure they're super dry. This is probably my issue!

I'll hang them on hangers in said cupboard in the first instance to see if it makes a difference.

Thanks all!

OP posts:
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